OVERVIEW: Jerry Senser and family move their philanthropy through the Senser Foundation. The family's philanthropy strongly focuses on Chicagoland. Grant sizes in general are rather modest, and quite a few are under $1,000. The family's largest sums of late have gone to Jewish organizations, including those in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Jerrold Senser graduated with a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Chicago. He began his career at Data Resources, spent seven years at Stein Roe & Farnham, and in 1986 joined Institutional Capital, a Chicago-based global value investment manager. He currently serves as co-CIO and chairman.

ISSUES:

JEWISH CAUSES: The Sensers' largest sums of late via their foundation have been directed towards Jewish organizations. Grantees have included American Israel Education Foundation, Friends of ELNET, and Am Yisrael, a congregation in Northfield, Illinois. The family has more modestly supported places like American Friends of Hebrew University, American Jewish Committee, Hillel, and US Holocaust Museum. Senser's wife Naomi studied at the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, and the couple's son served as an overseas volunteer for Magen David Adom, Israel's national organization for blood, ambulance, and emergency services.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES: Grantees have included AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Greater Chicago Food Depository, American Red Cross, American Tinnitus Association, and A Safe Place, which provides shelters and services. By the way, Naomi Senser has an M.D.

OTHER: Senser and family have supported schools like Northwestern University, his wife Naomi's alma mater, and the University of Utah. On the policy front, Senser Foundation grantees have included Foundation for Defense of Democracy, Middle East Media and Research Institute, and The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. In the arts, the Sensers have supported places like Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

LOOKING FORWARD: It's tough to tell if the Senser Foundation's grantmaking will ramp up in the coming years, but expect Jewish causes to remain a top interest of this Chicago area family.

CONTACT:

The Senser Foundation does not provide a clear avenue of contact but below is an address: